This Volcanic Lever Action Carbine was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1857. The carbine has a silver-plated brass receiver and buttplate with the standard New Haven Arms Company factory scroll engraving on the top and sides of the receiver and heel of the buttplate. The carbine has a 'Type II' barrel with half-rib that was originally manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company before it was re-organized as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. The distinctive octagon barrel and integral 20-shot magazine are blued. The barrel has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, half-moon, nickel-silver, front sight blade and brass, clam-shell shaped, magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "NEWHAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in one-line. The brass receiver has crescent cut-outs on the front and rear end of the ejection port and is fitted with a dove-tail mounted rear sight with knurled elevation wheel. The hammer has coarse, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. The bolt, rear sight, cartridge carrier, lever spring and screws have a fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The straight grain American walnut stock has a high polish piano finish. The serial number "34" is stamped on the left side of the lower receiver tang beneath the stock, on the inside of the buttplate heel, on the heel of the stock beneath the buttplate and on the shanks of the hand-fitted buttplate and stock screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The New Haven Arms Company manufactured approximately 1000 lever action carbines with 16- inch, 21-inch and 25-inch barrel between 1857 and 1860. Early production carbines, like this example, utilized some Volcanic Repeating Arms components.

Very good plus. This carbine is mostly all original with the exception of the lower buttplate screw and retains 60% of the original blue and silver-plated finish. The barrel and magazine retain 80% of the original blue finish which has faded to a pleasing plum-brown patina. The surfaces of the barrel/magazine are smooth with sharp edges. The barrel legend is crisp. The brass receiver and buttplate are in very good condition with small amounts of the delicate silver-plated finish visible in protected areas. The surfaces of the receiver and buttplate show minimal handling and storage wear. The simple but well executed factory scroll engraving is crisp and deep. Significant amounts of fire blue finish are present on the bolt, rear sight and cartridge carrier. The hammer, trigger and lever retain 70% of the muted case colors. The stock is in fine condition and retains 90% of the original piano finish. The stock has a number of light handling marks the most significant of which are a series of old and shallow scratches along the lower left side. This is a solid representative example of an early production, factory engraved, silver-plated New Haven Arms Company Volcanic Lever Action Carbine. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.